The Los Angeles Lakers set clear goals before the season began under new head coach JJ Redick. One of those goals was to secure the third seed and clinch home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. After 82 games, that’s exactly what Los Angeles accomplished.
The Lakers had one of the wildest trade deadlines in NBA history. It all began with an under-the-radar move: trading D’Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith. This deal gave the Lakers much-needed depth on the defensive end. Then, during the week of the trade deadline, Rob Pelinka pulled off a stunning move—acquiring one of the league’s most exciting young stars, Luka Doncic.
The trade was made with both the present and the future in mind. So far, the decision has paid off, giving LeBron James the other half of his superstar duo. Not only did the Lakers complete one of the greatest trades in recent memory, but they were also involved in one of the strangest. Los Angeles sent Dalton Knecht to Charlotte for Mark Williams, but just a few days later, the trade was rescinded, and both players returned to their original teams.
“It was a crazy time, not too many people have done that coming back,” Knecht said, reflecting on how he handled the situation.
Now, the Lakers are set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. The last time the T-Wolves came to Los Angeles, Anthony Edwards was ejected and kicked a ball into the stands. To Magic Johnson, Edwards is the most dangerous threat the Lakers will have to deal with.
“I’m scared for my Lakers because the game’s most exciting player, superstar Anthony Edwards, is a matchup problem,” Johnson wrote.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Johnson isn’t wrong—but during the regular season, the Lakers managed to keep Edwards' scoring in check, preventing him from going nuclear. Still, if Los Angeles wants to win this series, playoff Luka is going to have to show up fast.